Night Rain on Tiantai Mountain

　　　　Tiantai Mountain is located north of Hanzhong City, about 70 li from the county town, and is the highest peak among the surrounding mountains of the Hanzhong Basin. The mountain trails twist and turn through the hills, with stone steps climbing upward layer upon layer. From the mountaintop, one can look down to see rivers like ribbons and mountains like small hills, while clouds seem to sweep past one’s ears—hence the presence of the “Gate of the Heavenly South.” Mountain springs are crystal clear, winding around the area, with peculiar peaks and strange rocks creating scenery so picturesque it seems painted by nature, making for exceptionally beautiful landscapes. Poets from the Ming and Qing dynasties were often moved by it. The Qing Dynasty poet Yan Ruyu wrote in his poem “Visiting Tiantai Mountain”: *“Looming stones stand steep and tall, Perilous paths wind where old ridges sprawl. The temple turns as cliffs draw near, Monks return with clouds they bring here. The gilded gate stays shut in dim hue, Faded murals lose their color too.”*

　　　　Winding your way up from the foot of the mountain, you’ll pass by sites such as the Breathing Spring, the Cliff of Self-Sacrifice, the Gate of the Heavenly South, and Wazhai Summit (the mountain peak). The summit is flat, covering an area of about nine mu, and features the “Temple of the King of Medicine,” built during the Ming Dynasty, with ancient pines and cypresses in front of and behind the temple.

　　　　Tiantai Mountain, due to its towering height, often gathers clouds and mist. Its climate is highly changeable, shifting abruptly between sunshine and rain, coupled with significant temperature differences between day and night. When nighttime temperatures drop, the clouds and mist condense into rain. As a result, this natural phenomenon has also been romanticized with mythological overtones and referred to as “Night Rain on Tiantai Mountain.”